Gas pressure type dispensing container cap



Oct. 4, 1960 J. B. POTOCZKY GAS PRESSURE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER CAP Filed Oct. 13, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 4, 1960 J. B. PoToczKY GAS PRESSURE TYPE DISPENSIN Filed not. 13. 1958 G CONTAINER CAP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 4, 1960 J. B. PoToczKY GAS PRESSURE TYPE nIsPENsINs CONTAINER CAP Filed oet. 13. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O vG'AS PRESSURE TYPE DISPENSING CONTAINER CAP Joseph B. Potoczky, 8975 Burke Ave., South Gate, Calif.

Filed Oct. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 767,060

21 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to valve actuators, and particularly to that type of actuator which is adapted for use with a container of a uid material dispensed through a projecting tube by means of gas under pressure in the container. The present application is a continuation-inpart of application Serial No. 720,606, led March l1, 1958, which is now abandoned.4

. One of the principal difiiculties with containers of this type has always been the possibility that a user might attempt to, or might inadvertently press the dispensing Valve mechanism when the container was on its side or inverted. In this posture, the gas compound in the container may be brought into direct contact with the entrance of the dispensing tube with the result that the gas may rush out through the tube directly Vwithout forcing out any of the product in the container. If too much of the gas escapes in this manner, the product impelling charge may be wholly lost and, since there is no practical Way for the consumer to recharge the container so as to induce further ilow of the fluid product therefrom must be wasted. This disadvantage has been one of the principal drawbacks to the unqualified acceptance by the public of this type of dispensing means for many uid products.

Another problem of gas impelled dispensing containers arises from the fact that, because of the ease with which dispensing hitherto may be accomplished from any position, there is always a danger, where the product in the container is a poison or other deleterious substance, that, should it fall into the hands of small children, they may readily learn how to press the valve and dispense the poison upon themselves, or upon some surface which it may harm. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a valve mechanism which would only operate in a predetermined position which would be less likely to be stumbled upon by children or others for whose use the container is not intended.

Any device which may b e oifered to solve these problems must be simple and inexpensive, sincethe public is not usually interested in paying too much greater a price for mere convenience in dispensing the product. 4

The present invention solves the problems above indicated, and by means which meet the requirements of simplicity and inexpensiveness.

Briefly, the invention comprises means which may be secured to the container and operatively connected to the valving mechanism of the container, such means permitting the |valving mechanism to be actuated only when the container is disposed in a preselected attitude.

In one of the particular emb-odiments illustrated, there is shown a molded plastic cap for a typical metal container which has an upwardly projecting tube fulfilling the dual function of conducting the tiuid product upward from the container to the actual dispensing nozzle or spout, and of serving asa valve means when depressed. The cap is generally formed as a covered cylinder and includes a pair of conical walls coaxial with the cylinder, but spaced from each other axially. The upper conical wall preferably forms a transverse closing wall and both walls have suicient resiliency-to permit them to be depressed as ICC diaphragms in their respective central areas. The lower conical wall is provided on its underside with a fitting to grip the top of the container tube in such a manner that the application of any pressure to the central area of the lower conical wall results in depressing the tube with consequent valving action. The fitting further includes duct means which serve to conduct the uid from the uppermost extremity of the tube to a point outside the cap it may be dispensed.

In the space between the two conical walls, there is provided a sphere of hard materiaLypreferably metal, and of such diameter as to enable it to roll in said space. Whenever the container and its cap are disposed in such a manner that the common axis of the cones is vertical and their apexes are directed downwardly, the sphere will roll into and seat within the apex of the -lowermost conical surface. In this attitude, the application of any pressure to the outside of the upper resilient conical surface in its central region, results in the transmission of such pressure via the metal ball and the lower resilient conical wall to the valve stem, to depress the same, thereby allowing the uid product under the gas pressure to ow up the tube and out of the duct means for dispensing.

In the now preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer wall is at but resilient, having molded to its side, facing the conical wall, a cylindrical boss with a concave head. When the container is properly oriented, the spherical element seats in the lower conical wall in the common axis of the latter and of the concave headed cylindrical boss, so that the application of any pressure to the outer wall causes the wall to move the boss in such axis to where the concavity of the boss grips the spherical element. Any further pressure so applied to the wall will be transmitted via the iitting on the underside of the conical wall, to the valve stem to actuate the same.

ln another embodiment utilizing fluid to furnish the linkage between the member to which pressure is applied externally and the resilient wall which grips the container valve, a cylinder is constructed to arise from the latter wall, with the cylinder walls oriiiced above a predetermined level to drain the iuid into a receiving chamber upon tilting of containers from the attitude which disposes the axis of the cylinder vertically.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, a rigid elongate linkage element is disposed universally pivotable in the roof of the outer yieldable wall. This linkage is of a length just short of the distance between the latter wall and the lower wall which is in contact with the valve. When the container cap is properly oriented, the linkage element falls into its bridging position, thereby to transmit pressure to the lower wall. In any other position, the linkage pivots out of the bridging position.

In a still further embodiment, the lower conical wall funnels into a cylinder, disposed at the cone apex. A cooperating piston spaced slightly from the cylinder and disposed coaxially therewith in the resilient outer wall of the cap, spaced from the conical wall, moves into the cylinder when the outer wall is depressed in the cylinderpiston axis. A limited amount of fluid is sealed into a chamber in the cap, which chamber is partially dened by the spaced conical and outer walls. In a predetermined `attitude of the cap, the fluid ows into the cylinder and fills the same so that any pressure applied to the'resilient outer wall is transmitted through its piston moving against the fluid in the cylinder to the resilient inner conical wall, thereby to operate the valve stem. the container in which the iiuid fails to till thecylinder, the piston will move in the cylinder Without effecting a pressural fluid contact with the conical wall. p

VWhile certain of the illustrated embodiments of theV invention contemplate disposing the conical surface in such a manner that dispensing is possible only whenv the, conwhere In any attitude of` `tainer is maintained in its intended upright position, it

may readily be adapted to permit dispensing to occur only when the container is'held upside down in a vertical position. This latter elect is accomplished by inverting theA lower conical' surface so that its apex is directed upwardly when the container is in its usual upright position. No seating ofthe ball or other bridging means in the central region' of the conical surface therefore occurs until the container is turned upside down. This embodiment may have particular utility for dispensing poisonous substances by gas impulsion where means are provided in the container to prevent the gas from passing upwardly through the product to the mouth of the dispensing tube when the container is in such inverted position.

Itwould also be possible to dispose the lower cone with its axis outside of the vertical axis of the container so that'the container would have to be tilted until the cone axisis disposed vertically in order to seat the sphere or other means and permit valving.

The duct means may also be provided at its dispensing end with a slit opening which is normally closed, but the Wall defining which slit yields under pressure created within the duct to open the slit and permit tiuid to flow therethrough-so long as such pressure is maintained. When the iiuid pressure is cut off, the'wall defining the slit opening, recloses to prevent air from having access to the fluid remaining in theI duct which might cause caking, andto prevent dripping.

For ease of manufacture, the dispensing'duct means may be made as a semi-cylindrical open-ended piece into which is inserted a special plug which includes the slit resilient wall. The latter spreads about the slit under iiuid pressure to allow` the uid to pass therethrough, closing when the iiuid in the duct is relieved of pressure.

The invention is more fully detailed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig; 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a typical Freon container for which a cap according to the present invention has been provided;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section takenon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the nozzle or dispensing end of the duct means shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 in an embodiment in which the conical surfaces have been inverted to permit dispensing-only when the container is turned upside down;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 of a modified embodiment of the invention in which the upper wall of the cap has been modified to eliminate the conical structure of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing a still further modified embodiment of the invention in which a liquid is employed in lieu of the spherical element in the Figs. 2, 4 and 5 embodiments;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 in which the cap has been tilted so that the liquid no longer fully occupies the cylinder at the apex of the cone;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail of the piston and cylinder combination of the Fig. 6 embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail similar to that of Fig. 8 showing the manner in which Fig. 6 embodiment operates upon the application of pressure to the outer transverse wall of the cap;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view :of a spout arrangement shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7;

Fig. 11 is a partial view similar to that of Fig. 10 showing the plug removed from the duct;

Fig. 12 is a section taken. on the line of 12-12 of Fig. ll; f

Fig. 13 is a partial section similar to Fig. 2 showing a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 14V isa fragmentary view similar to Fig. 10` in whichlthe-caphasbeen'tiIted; and

Fig. 15 is a partial section similar to Fig. 2 of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Fig. l, there is illustrated the manner in Which one embodiment of the invention may be adapted to tit onto the top of a typical Freon type iiuid product container 10, which may be in the form of a cylinder 12 having a cover 14. The latter's-oriliced at 16, as shown in Fig. 2, to permit to be passed therethrough atube 18 container arrangement by which flow of a ii'uid product to be dispensed through a tube is induced by depressing the tube itself, or some other valving means.

For the type of container in which fluid flow isy induced by depressing, a tube in the manner illustrated in the drawings, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a cap 22, preferably molded of a resilient plastic such as polyethylene, an inner lower conical plate 24, the underside of which is provided with a tube cap 26 and duct fitting 28, and a metal ball or sphere 3i?. The cap 22. is formed to a general cylindrical con'- iiguration, the lowermost portion, however, being widened and flanged Vat 32 to afford means to slip over and grasp the upper rim 314 of the metal container. The top of the cap Z2 is closed by a thin transverse wall 36 of conical configuration, such wall being capable of being flexed to a limited'degree in the manner of a diaphragm.

Both the side wall 3S, defining the cylindrical portion of the cap 22 and the anged portion 32 are slotted at 4t) to permit the duct 42 of theiitting 2S to bebrought out from the tube cap 26 through the wall 38. The inner lower conical plate 24 may be molded as a separate element which is'slidably received within the upper portion of the cylindrical cavity defined by the wall 38. The

Vinside of the latter wall is provided with an annular rib or bead 44 to prevent the plate 24 from slipping out of the cap 22 after it is once installed therein, and to provide means for seating the plate 24 on a desired level@ The rib or bead 44 is so located in relation to the inside of the transverse wall 36 as to allow the plate 24 to be spaced axially from the wall 36 by a distance slightly in excess of the diameter of the metal ball or sphere 30, thereby permitting the latter Vto roll around in the space 46 between these two conical surfaces. The cone angle of the wall 36 is preferably slightly less'than the cone angle of the plate 24 so that there is more space for the hall further radially outwardly from the axis of the cones.

The tube cap 26 and duct fitting 28, which are molded to the underside of the plate 24, perform the dual function of providing means Vwhereby the tube 1.8 may be depressed for valving action, and at the Sametime, means to conduct the uid product,A the iiow of which is induced by such action, from the tube outlet to the desired point of dispensing. To accomplish these objects, the cap is formed of a cylindrical wall member 4S, the inside diameter of the lower portion of which is such as to receive the tubel in a'snug lit. The inside diameter of t-he upper portion of the member 48, beginning below the level of the duct 42, is abruptly decreased at 50 to the same inside diameter as that of the tube 18, thereby to form an annular shoulder 52' which seats over the top rim 19 of the tube 18.

From the thus constricted passage 50, the duct fitting 28 is turned topa horizontal direction below the underside of the plate 24, and is brought out through the slotting 40 in the wall 38. The actual tiuid nozzle for the fitting 28 may be'of any' type, but if the product'being dispensed is liable to cake upon exposure to atmosphere, some means should be provided to close the nozzle after each dispensing. In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the means adopted comprises a simple slit 54 in the underside of the liexible wall 56 defining the duct 42. i

` To assemble the Fig. l embodiment of the invention the molded cap 22 is rst inverted and the sphere 30 is dropped onto the insideof the transverse wall 36. Next, the separately molded resilient plate 24 is slipped into the cavity 45 and forced over the rib 44, the duct fitting 38 being inserted into and allowed to protrude through .the slotting 40. The cap 22 may then be turned upright, and the plate 24 is seated upon the rib 44 by moving the integrally molded plate-cap-duct element by means of the protruding duct fitting 28 until the element is level and the ball 30 may be heard or felt to roll on the conical surface of the plate 24. The inner cap 26 is then brought over the upper end of the tube 18, and the flanged wall 32 is pressed down over the rim 34. If necessary, the plate 24 may then be releveled by moving the duct element 28.

In this assembled position, it may now be seen that the tube 18 can -be depressed to initiate and maintainV flow of duid only when the container is in a substantially upright position. sphere 30 seat in the apex 60 of the conical surface of the plate 24, and bridge the space between the upper cone wall 36 land the area of the lower plate 24 which forms the cover 64 of the cap 26, so that when suiiicient downward pressure is exerted upon the dome 62 of the cap wall 36, such pressure will be transmitted via the sphere 30, upper wall 64 and shoulder S2 of the tube y cap 22 to the rim 19 of the tube 18, thereby depressing the latter and inducing flow of the fluid product. In any other attitude of the container 10, the ball 30 simply rolls to the side of the space 46 radially outwardly of the axis, so that the application of pressure to the dome 62 fails to depress the wall 36 sufficiently to result in any pressure being passed onto the cap cover 64.

The amount of tilting of the container about its vertical axis which may be tolerated and still permit vaflving lof the product is determined by the cone angle of the plate 24. If this cone angle is almost 180 degrees, as is shown in Fig. 2, obviously any slight tiltingV of the container will cause the ball to roll out of the apex 60. On the other hand, should the cone angle be made more acute, a considerable degree of tilting may be required to roll the ball 30 out vof its seatedV position in the cone apex 60.

The embodiment of Fig. 4 is adapted to permit valving of the product only when the container is in a substantially inverted position. In all other positions, the ball 30 fails to seat and bridge the space between the' two conical surfaces in the area where the application of pressure to the outer cone will result in the transmission of that pressure to `the cap roof (or floor in this instance), so as to effect sliding movement of the tube'7 and hence Valving action. Obviously, the cones could be arranged in many positions intermediate the two which are illustrated, to permit valving only at a predetermined disposition of the container about the vertical axis.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the upper transverse wall 136 is flat instead of conical as in the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 4. To enable the lower wall 124 to be depressed by the application of pressure upon the outer wall 136, there is integrally molded to the underside of the transverse wall 136 a cylindrical piston 170 which extends down into the cavity 146 to a point slightly above the surface of the spherical element 30, when the latter is disposed in the apex of the conical surface 124. This piston 170 is preferably shaped with a slight concavity 172 in the underside of its head which confronts the spherical element 30. As may be seen from the dotted line positioning of the wall and piston in Fig. 5,

Only in this posture will the metal when the resilient wall 136 and the piston 170 are depressed in the axis of the cone, the spherical element 30 is gripped within the concavity 172 of the piston 170, so that further pressure applied to the wall 136 is then transmitted through the element 30 and lower wall 124 to the shoulder 152, to depress the valve stem 18 in the same manneras in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 embodiments.

As may be seen from Figs. 6-9, inclusive the present invention is not limited to an arrangement which employs a spherical or even a solid element to bridge the space between the upper and lower resilient walls.

Thus, in the Figs. 6-9 embodiment, the lower conical wall 224 is constructed to define a cylindrical recess 261 which is deposed vat the apex of the cone, coaxial with the latter. A small amount of duid 230 is poured into the cylinder 261 and the conical wall 224 is sealed to 'the inner surface 238 of the cylindrical side wall of the cap 222. As in the Fig. 5 embodiment, a piston 270 having a concave head 271 confronting the cylinder is molded integrally with the upper transverse wall 236. Preferably, an annular sealing rib 276 (best shown in Figs. 8 and 9) is molded integrally in the side Wall of the piston 270. I

When the embodiment of Fig. 6 is oriented with a vertical axis, .the liquid 230 flows down the conical walls to iill the cylinder 261. Depressing the resilient upper transverse wall 236 in the piston axis causes the piston 270 to move down to the liquid level, as best shown in Fig. 9. Any further downward movement of the wall 236 and piston 27() in the axis of the piston results in hydraulically transmitting the pressurel causing such movement via the fluid 230 to the lower wall 224 and its integral tube cap 222 ito depress the valve stern 18,v exactly as in all other embodiments heretofore discussed.

As may be seen from Fig. 7, however, if, prior to depressing the piston 270 in its axis, the cap 222 is tilted, a substantial portion of the liquid 2.30 ilows out of the cylinder 261 `and into a side area of the chamber 246, defined by the cap walls. When the fluid 230 has thus flowed out of the cylinder 261, depressing the piston 270 into the cylinder results in no transmission of pressure t-o the lower conical wall 224 until the piston actually moves far enough into the cylinder to act upon the small remaining amount of liquid 230a in the cylinder. However, the cap 222 can be molded in such a manner that the elastic limit of the wall 236 is reached before the piston moves far enough into the cylinder 261 to apply pressure to the lower wall 224 where only a small predetermined amount of liquid 23011 remains in the cylinder. The amount so remaining is determined by the extent of tilting of the container.

To avoid the application of any undesired force to the wall 224 when the cylinder 261 has been drained of liquid 230 by tilting of the container, it is advisable to make the annular sealing rib 276 of an outside diameter j'ust about equal the inside diameter of the cylinder 261. The embodiment of Fig. 6 includes a novel plug 280 1n the spout 228. The latter is formed as a semi-cylindrical tube which is provided with a semi-annular recess 282 and a pair of diametrically opposed guide slots 284. The plug 280 is in the form of a small tube segment open at its inner extremity 286 with a semi-annular rib 288 adapted to iit the recess 282, and an end closure wall 290 as best seen in Fig. l2.

The plug 280 is inserted in the open extremity of the spout 228, and pressed into the spout passage until the 'rib 288 locks in the recess 282. At this point, the plug tend to close therebyl to prevent the admission ofair into the tube passage 2792 to cause cakingof .the fluid container therein.

The advantage of this plug type construction lies the'y fact that the capl may be more readily molded4 as two separate pieces. f i

The embodiment of the` invention illustrated in Fig. 13 is constructed to provide a cylinder 361 the wall 362 of which arises from the transverse fitting wall 364 in the manner shown. The latter is formed to grip fthe of the tube ibi in the manner of the previously described embodiments. The cylinder wall 362.v is oriiiced laterally at four points 363 to place the cylinder 361/ in communication with an annular chamber 365 which serves to receive fluid 33@ from the cylinder $61. whenever the container cap is tilted in the manner shown in Fig. 14.

The chamber 365 and cylinder 36'1 are closed by a transverse circular plate 366 which is sealed onto the vertical walls 367 Iand 362, deiining the chamber and the cylinder, respectively. The plate 366 is centrally oriced at S67 inthe axis of the cylinder to' permit a piston 37@ `to be passed therethrough. The verticalwall of the plate 366, which wall denes the orifice 367, is annularly beaded at 376 to seal the piston 370 against fluid leakage through the orifice 367 in the manner of an O-ring.

The piston 3764 extends upwardly to the underside of the resilient outer closure wall 336. A spring 36S is provided in lthe cylinder to maintain the piston at the upper extremity of its strolre until the force of the spring is overcome by a force applied to the outside of the wall 336. The volume of theV cylinder 361 and quantity of liquid provided therein is determined in relation to the Volume of ythe chamber 365 so that, upon the tilting of the cap in the manner shown in Fig. 14, the liquid 339 quickly escapes through the oriiices 363 into the chamber 365, and, therefore, lprovides no medium in such tilted position by which force applied to the outer end of the piston may be transmitted to the iitting wall V364` to cause actuation of the valve i8.

lt will be readily perceived that the Fig. 13 embodiment operates quite similarly to the embodiment of Fig. 6 in that only when :the container is maintained in the vertical axis the piston 370, upon being depressed, will be met by the iluid 336, which because of its incompressibility, transmits force applied thereto by the piston to the movable fitting wall 364, thereby to actuate the valve i8.

In the embodiment of Fig. l5, the underside of the resilient closure wall 36 is constructed to provide a socket 471 for universally pivotably mounting an elongate linlf.- age element 472 to enable the latter to pivot within a conical surface 473. The ele/ment 472 is preferably made of a heavy metal so thatv it tends toy dispose itself in a vertical axis irrespective of the position of the cap.l A fitting 464 is provided over the upwardly projecting end valve stem 18. This iittingvshould include a cylindricali stumplike portion 465, which is centrally recessed at 466 to receive the ball-like end 474 of the element 472. The spout 423 extends through the cap wall 438 in the manner shown.

As may be seen from the dotted position of the element 472, Whenever the cap is tilted and the element 472 swings laterally to maintain its vertical orientation, the ball-like end 474 is removed from possible contact with the stump 465. In this attitude, depressing the resilient closure wall 436 effects no contact with the tting 464 to actuate the valve stem 18. However, when the cap is vertically disposed and the element 472 aligns itself in the axis of the stump 465, the applicationk of pressure tothe central portion of the transverse wall 436 results in iirst seating the ball-like extremity 474 in the recess 466, and then transmitting further force applied to' the wall 436 to the stump 465, to cause the fitting 464. to depress `and actuate the valve stem r1S.

tothe application of a predetermined force on said valve,

said device comprising: a member, said member being spaced. from said valve and movable toward said valve upon the application of pressure on said member; and means interposable between said Valve and said member onlyy in aI predetermined attitude of the device, whereby when said device is arranged in such attitude, pressure applied? to said member is transmitted via said meansY to saidvalve, thereby toactuate the valve.

2. A device for actuating a valve, operable in response tothe application of a predetermined force on said' val-ve,v

said device comprising: a member, said member being spaced from said valve and movable toward said valve upon the applicationy of pressure on said member; and means gravitationally interposable between said valve and said member only in a predetermined Vattitude of the device, whereby when said device is arranged in such attitude, pressure applied to said member is transmitted Via said means to said valve, thereby to actuate the valve.

3. A valve cap for a gaseous pressure type iluid product dispensing container, said container having an actuating tube projecting from the container, the uid product flowing through said tube upony the application of a predetermined force to a given area of the tube, said cap comprising: a member spacedV from said. area and movable toward said area upon the application of pressure on said member; and means interposable between said area and said member only in a predetermined attitude of the cap, whereby when the cap is arranged in such attitude, pressure applied to said member is transmitted via said means to said area, thereby to aotuate the valve.

4.1A valveA capA for a gaseous pressure type uid product dispensing container, said container having an actuating tube projecting from the container, the iiuid product flowing through said tube upon the application of a predeteimined force to a given areaof the tube, said cap comprising: a member spaced from said area and movable toward saidv area upon the application of pressure on. said member; and means gravitationally inter-Y posable between said area and said member only in a predetermined attitude of the cap, whereby when the cap vis arranged in such attitude, pressure applied to said member isY transmitted via said means to said area, thereby tov actuate' the valve.

p 5. A valve cap fora gaseous pressure type fluid product dispensing container, said container having an actuating tube projecting from the container, the iluid product flowing through said tube upon the application of a predetermined force tothe tube, said cap comprising: a conduit; a coupling element, said element being adapted communicably to join said tube with said conduit and to constitute means via which the requisite force to actuate the valve may be applied to the tube; a member spaced from said element and movable toward said element in a direction of the force required to be applied to said tube to cause the fluid to flow; and means interposable between said element yand said member only in a prede-- termined attitude of the cap, whereby the application of any force to the member to cause the same to move toward the element, will be communicated to said element, thereby tocause fluid to ilow through the tube.

6. A valve cap for a gaseous pressure type uid product dispensing container, said container hav-ing an actuating tube projecting from the container, the fluid product owing through saidtube upon the application of a predetermined force to the tube, said cap comprising: a conduit; na. couplingvelement, said element being adapted communicablyto join said tube with said conduit and to constitute means via which the requisite force to actuate the valve may be applied to the tube; a member spaced from said element and movable toward said element in a direction of the force required to be applied to said tube to cause the fluid to flow; and means gravitationally interposable between said element and said member only in a predetermined attitude of the cap, whereby the application of any force to the member to cause the same to move toward the element, will be communicated to said element, thereby tocause fluid to ow through the tube.

7. A dispensing cap for aerosol containers having a tubular discharge valve stem which actuates the valve when the stem is depressed inwardly of the container,

said cap comprising: a conduit, a coupling element for theoutwardly projecting stem extremity, whereby the flow of the fluid discharged by the stem may be continued through the conduit for ultimate discharge thereby; and means for depressing the stem via said coupling element in a predetermined attitude of the cap, said means i-ncluding a side wall, and a pair of transverse walls spaced from each other, said three walls defining 1a cavity, the side Wall being ixedly engaged with the container; the lower transverse wall converging toward a limited area above said coupling element, 4and said lower wall being depressible at said area with said element to actuate the valve stem; the upper wall being depressible in the region above said area; and said means further including an element adapted to move about in said cavity upon changing the attitude of the container and to seat in said area only in a predetermined attitude thereof, the spacing between said pair of walls in said area and region closely approximating the vertical dimension of said rolling element when so seated in said area, whereby only when the container is disposed in. said predetermined attitude can the valve be actuated.

I 8; A dispensing cap for 'aerosol containers having a tubular discharge valve stern which actuates the valve when the stem is depressed inwardly of the container, said cap comprising: a conduit; a coupling element, said coupling element being adapted to engage the outwardly projecting stem extremity and to couple thereto, said conduit, whereby the flow of the fluid discharged by the stem may be continued through the conduit for ultimate discharge by the latter; and means for depressing the stern` via said coupling element, said means including a housing defining a cavity; a first portion of said housing being in contact with said stem Iand being depressible therewith, and a second portion of said housing being movable in the direction in which said first portion and said stem are depressible; said housing further containing in said cavity means interposable between said 'first and `second housing portions only in a predetermined attitude of the housing; whereby force applied to the second portion to move the same toward the first portion is trans-l mitted to the irst portion and thereby, to the valve stem, to actuate the valve.

9. A dispensing cap for aerosol containers having a tubular discharge valve stem which actuates the valve when thestem'is depressed inwardly of the container, said cap comprising: a conduit; a coupling element, said coupling element being adapted to engage the outwardly projecting stem extremity and to couple thereto, said conduit,` whereby the ow of the uid discharged by the stem may be continued through the conduit for ultimate discharge by the latter; and means for depressing the stem via vsaid coupling element, said means including a housing defining acavity; a first portion of said housing being in contact with said stem and being depressible therewith, and a second portion of said housing being movable in the direction in which said first portion and said stem are depressible; said housing further containing in said cavity means gravitationally interposable between l()` said first 'and second housing portions only in a predetermined attitude of the housing; whereby force applied to the second portion to move the same toward the iirst portion is transmitted to the first portion and thereby, to the valve stem, to actua-te the valve.

l0. The device as described in claim 9 wherein the first portion of the housing includes a cylinder with walls converging toward said cylinder; the second portion includes a piston spaced from the bottom wall of the cylinder; and the interposable means is a uid which flows into the cylinder to occupy the space between the piston and the bottom wall in the predetermined attitude of the housing.

ll. 'I'he device as described in claim 9 wherein the iirst portion of the housing includes a wall which converges to a point most proximate said valve stem, and the means is a rolling element.

l2. The device ias described in claim 9 wherein the rst portion of the housing includes a wall which converges to a point most proximate said valve stern, and the means is a ball element.

13. A valve cap for a gaseous pressure type fluid product dispensing container, said container having an actuating tube projecting upwardly from the container, the iiuid product owing through said tube upon the application of a predetermined downward force on the tube wall in the direction of tube axis, said cap comprising: ia conduit disposed at an angle relative to the tube, said conduit including a coupling element for the tube extremity which the flow of the fluid discharged by the tube may be continued through the conduit for ultimate discharge thereby; and means for applying actuating force to the tube via said coupling element, said means including a side Wall and a pair of transverse walls spaced from each other to dene a cavity, the lower wall converging toward an area disposed above said coupling element and said lower wall at said area being depressible with said element; and the upper wall being liexible; an element adapted to roll about in said cavity and to seat in said varea in a predetermined -attitude of said container,-

whereby only when the container is disposed in such attitude can the valve be actuated by forcefully depressing said flexible upper wall.

14. A dispensing cap for aerosol containers having a tubular discharge valve stem which actuates the valve when the stern is depressed inwardly of the container, said cap comprising: a conduit disposed at an angle relative to said stem, a coupling element associated with said conduit vand adapted to connect said conduit to said stem, whereby the flow of the fluid discharged by the stem may be continued through the conduit for ultimate discharge thereby; and means for depressing the stem via said coupling element, said means including a pair of transverse walls spaced from each other and disposed substantially normally to the axis of the valve stem, both of said walls being depressible toward said valve stem extremity in the regions of said walls intersected by said stem axis, and means contained between said walls but interposable between said regions only in a predetermined range of attitudes of said container, thereby to bridge said regions so that the application of any force to the outer wall in the direction of the valve stem, is transmitted to the latter via the coupling to actuate the container valve.

l5. For use with a container holding a liquid product which is to be dispensed, said container having an element projecting therefrom and valve means actuated by depressing said element; second means to permit said valve means to be actuated only when the container is disposed in a predetermined position, said second means comprising: a plate, said plate being of flexible material and having a surface which converges to a predetermined point, the underside of said plate being operatively connected in the immediate region below said point to said element; a sphere of hard material, said sphere being disposed on said plate; and a cap, said cap having side walls 1'1 and a transverse closure wall Iand being adapted to house and hold said plate, said cap further being aflxed; to the container in such a manner as to disposei said plate norm-ally to the vertical when thercontainer is set in the desired dispensing position, said transverse wall being disposed over said plate ,and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the sphere labove saidpoint, and `at least the same distance elsewhere, said transverse wall further being ait leastV partiallymovable relative to the plate in the varea over said point,P whereby only when the container is disposed in the desireddispensing position is the sphere seated on the said point and the space between said point and the transverse wall substantially bridged so that the application ofv pressure to the area of the transverse wall over said point results in the transmission of such pressure: via the sphere and said plate to the valve actuating element to cause action ofthe valve means.

116. For use with a container holding a liquid product which'is to be dispensed, said container having an element projecting therefrom and valve means actuated by depressing said element; second means to permity said valve means to be actuated only when the container isY disposed in a predetermined position, said second means comprising: a plate, said plate being o flexible material and `having a surface which converges to a predetermined point, the underside of said plate being operatively connected in the immediate reg-ion below said point to said elementga sphere of hard material, said sphere being disposed on said plate; and a cap,'said cap having side walls and a transverse closure Wall land beingwadapted to house and slidably hold said plate, said' cap further being allxed to the container in such a manner las to dispose said plate normally to lthe' vertical ywhen the container is set in the desired dispensing position, said transverse wall being of ilexible material, disposed over said plate, and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the sphere above said point, and at least the same distance elsewhere, whereby only when the container is disposed in the desired dispensing position is the sphere seated on the saidvpoint and the space between said point and' the transverse wall substantially bridged so that the application of pressure to the area of fthe transverse wall over said' point results in the transmission of such pressure via the sphere and s-aid plate to the valve actuating element to cause actuation of the valve means. j

17. VFor use with a container, said container holding a liquid product which is to be dispensed, and said container having 'an element projecting therefrom and valve means actuated by depressing said element; second means to permit said valve means to be actuated only when the container is disposedin a predetermined position, said second means comprising: a plate, saidrpl'ate being of flexible material and having a conical surface which converges to 'a predetermined point, the underside of said plate being operatively connected inthe immediate region below said point to said element; a sphere of hard material, said sphere being disposed on said plate; and a cap, said cap having side walls and a transverse closure wall and being adapted to house and slidably hold said plate, said cap further being -aixed to the container in such a manner as to ydispose said plate normally to the vertical when the container is set in the desired dispensing position, said transverse wall also being conical with a cone angle not greater than that of the plate, said transverse wall further being of flexible material and disposed over said plate and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the sphere above l2 said point and at least the same distance elsewhere, whereby only when the container is disposed in the desired dispensing position is the sphere seated on the said point and the space between said point and the transverse wallV substantially bridged so that the application of pressure tothe area of the transverse wall over said point results in the transmission of such pressure via the sphere and said plate to the valve actuating element/to cause -actuation ofthe valve means.

18. A duid dispensing spout, said spout comprising: a semi-cylindrical tube, said tube being closed by a fiat wall extending axially substantially the entire length ofl the tube, said tube having openings at both ends through which the tluid hows from a source thereof, the semicylindricalwall of said tube being internally grooved, said grooving lying in a plane normal to the ,axis of the tube and disposed adjacent to, but spaced from,- the outlet end of said tube; yand a nozzle element, said element being formed as a semi-cylindrical sleeve of resilient material, said sleeve being shaped to t snugly within said grooved end of the tube, said elementv including at one extremity a radially outwardly projecting semi-annularboss which mates with saidl tube grooving, the opposite extremity of said element being provided with a thin transverse resilient wall-said sleeve being of such length as to dispose the last said wall to abut the adjacentl extremity of the flat closure wall of the tube, whereby when duid under pressure flows through the tube, the thin wall yields to separate from the said. at wall extremity along the line of its abutment with the said flat wall extremity to permit discharge of the iluid therebetween, but' with the release of pressure upon the fluid inthe tube, the re silient wall moves backto abut the said flat wall extremity to 'close the tube end,

19. The spout as described in claim 18 wherein the tube is also made of resilient material.

I20. The spout as described in claim 18 wherein both the tube and the sleeve are molded of polyethylene.

Z1. A val-ve cap for a gaseous pressure type duid product dispensing container, said container having an actuat ing valve stem projecting from the container, the fluid product flowing through said stem upon the application` of a predetermined force to the valve stem, said cap comprising: a iitting, said fitting including a portion on the end of the valve stem whereby the requisite force may be applied to the valve stern to actuate the valve; .a member spaced from said fitting and movable toward said fitting substantially in the `direction of said force, said member including socket means disposed in line of said force; `and an elongate element, one end of said element being disposed to pivot in said socket means', and said element, only when theA cap is oriented in a predetermined attitude, pivoting to assume a position substantially in said line of force with its opposite end almost abutting said fitting, whereby in such attitudeA the application of force to the member to move the same in said line of force, results in transmitting such force to said tting via saidk element toractuate the valve, but in other attitudes of the cap, the element is swung away from said iitting to 'avoid contact therewith.

References Cited in the rile of this patentl UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,272 Bowen July 4, 1950 2,585,286 Tubbs Feb. 12, 1952 2,643,799 Countryman lune 30, 19153 2,723,055 Beard Nov. 8, 1955 2,753,214 Abplanalp July 3, 1-956 2,772,819 Poarch et al Dec. 4.,I 19156 

